Wiley Cossey

[DeuceCoupe]

Hey all, I wish Paul were here but perhaps one of you has the answer to this. I'm trying to find out what Wiley Cossey drove BEFORE he switched to Mopar. I have:
* 1966: 1966 Biscayne L72 in W/P=8.70 class
* 1964-65: 1959 El Camino 348/315-6v in W/P=11.90 class
* 1962:
This is the mystery. The old sheets show Cossey with wins & records in the W/P=11.90 class, driving a "1962 Chevy". I figure if true, that had to be a 1962 Impala 4ds with W/P=11.93 and an overrated 327/300 under the hood. That combo doesn't seem very competitive, especially before cheater/fat cams.


I'd figure maybe it was a typo and his 1962 Indy winner & record holder was really the same 1959 El Camino, but it's pretty hard to confuse those cars, and it says "62 Chevy" on 3 different sheets.


Did Cossey really run a 1962 Impala 4ds, 327/300 back in 1962?

[dc1320Fan]

I can help some with Wiley after 1969 with the Mopars but I did not know him well prior to that. We both raced in division 7 but in different eliminators.
I know he raced earlier in Junior Stock and had a brother named Bill that also raced. Anything he raced was a stick shift and he was a good driver and seldom broke anything. His cars were always successful. He worked for Bill Casler in the tire division and later for Hooker Headers for many years.
I hope some older division 7 racers can help out here.

[dc1320Fan]

Found this old National Dragster article by long time journalist/artist John Jodauga now retired but I believe it just covers what you already know.

[dc1320Fan]

Originally Posted by DeuceCoupe

Hey all, I wish Paul were here but perhaps one of you has the answer to this. I'm trying to find out what Wiley Cossey drove BEFORE he switched to Mopar. I have:
* 1966: 1966 Biscayne L72 in W/P=8.70 class
* 1964-65: 1959 El Camino 348/315-6v in W/P=11.90 class
* 1962:
This is the mystery. The old sheets show Cossey with wins & records in the W/P=11.90 class, driving a "1962 Chevy". I figure if true, that had to be a 1962 Impala 4ds with W/P=11.93 and an overrated 327/300 under the hood. That combo doesn't seem very competitive, especially before cheater/fat cams.


I'd figure maybe it was a typo and his 1962 Indy winner & record holder was really the same 1959 El Camino, but it's pretty hard to confuse those cars, and it says "62 Chevy" on 3 different sheets.


Did Cossey really run a 1962 Impala 4ds, 327/300 back in 1962?

There is a photo in the Petersen Archive site ID872756 at Pomona 1962 with an E/S 1961 Impala 250hp, owner Flanagan, sponsor Airline Auto Sales.

[DeuceCoupe]

Originally Posted by dc1320Fan

There is a photo in the Petersen Archive site ID872756 at Pomona 1962 with an E/S 1961 Impala 250hp, owner Flanagan, sponsor Airline Auto Sales.

Thanks well that answers a couple questions -


I didn't know Bill Cossey & Wiley Cossey were different people!


And the 1961 Impala, I had guessed a Belair 2-door 348/250 but maybe an Impala 348/250 fits as well, that firms that one up a bit.


The big mystery is Cossey's 1962 Chev, wins at Pomona and Indy, both ends of national record, all in 1962, C/S=11.90 class. My guess is a 4-door 327/300 but as I said just a guess.